ABNT NBR 15606

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ABNT NBR 15606
Data coding and transmission specification for digital broadcasting
Transmission in the Brazilian standardization structure.jpg
SBTVD Standards Structure
Native name
  • Spanish: Codificación de datos y especificaciones de transmisión para radiodifusión digital
  • Portuguese: Codificação de dados e especificações de transmissão para radiodifusão digital
First publishedNovember 11, 2007 (2007-11-11)
Latest version0.0
November 11, 2007

ABNT NBR 15606 refers to a collection of technical standards that govern the transmission of digital terrestrial television in Brazil.

Contents

The data coding aspects of the Brazilian Digital Terrestrial Television Standards are described in the following documents published by ABNT, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas): [1] ABNT NBR 15606-1:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification - Part 1: Data coding; ABNT NBR 15606-2:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification - Part 2: Ginga-NCL for fixed and mobile receivers: XML application language for application coding; ABNT NBR 15606-3:2007- Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification - Part 3: Data transmission specifications for digital broadcasting; and ABNT NBR 15606-5:2008 - Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification – Part 5: Ginga [2] -NCL [3] for portable receivers: XML application language for application coding.

In the field of digital and interactive television, Nested Context Language (NCL) is a declarative authoring language for hypermedia documents. NCL documents do not contain multimedia elements such as audio or video content; rather they function as a "glue" language that specifies how multimedia components are related. In particular, NCL documents specify how these components are synchronized relative to each other and how the components are composed together into a unified document. Among its main facilities, it treats hypermedia relations as first-class entities through the definition of hypermedia connectors, and it can specify arbitrary semantics for a hypermedia composition using the concept of composite templates.

XML Markup language developed by the W3C for encoding of data

Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a markup language that defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable and machine-readable. The World Wide Web Consortium's XML 1.0 Specification of 1998 and several other related specifications—all of them free open standards—define XML.

The standard was written by telecommunications and television experts from many countries with their works coordinated by the SBTVD Forum and cover in detail all the aspects of video and audio coding that applies to SBTVD. The complete document can be found and downloaded freely in English, Spanish and Portuguese at ABNT's website.

SBTVD Forum

The SBTVD Forum is a non-profit organization of private and public companies responsible for the general aspects of Digital TV deployment in Brazil. The organization was founded in 2007 in order to address all technical issues regarding the upcoming SBTVD standard, also known as ISDB-Tb.

The standard addresses one of the main advances regarding the middleware specification, one of the Brazilian digital television system. The middleware specification comprises a procedural portion, performed by Java, [4] and a declarative portion, performed by NCL and Lua, with a bridge that allow for mutual access between them. The combined Brazilian middleware specification is called Ginga.

Java (software platform) set of several computer software products and specifications

Java is a set of computer software and specifications developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems, which was later acquired by the Oracle Corporation, that provides a system for developing application software and deploying it in a cross-platform computing environment. Java is used in a wide variety of computing platforms from embedded devices and mobile phones to enterprise servers and supercomputers. Java applets, which are less common than standalone Java applications, were commonly run in secure, sandboxed environments to provide many features of native applications through being embedded in HTML pages.

Lua (programming language) Lightweight programming language

Lua is a lightweight, high-level, multi-paradigm programming language designed primarily for embedded use in applications. Lua is cross-platform, since the interpreter of compiled bytecode is written in ANSI C, and Lua has a relatively simple C API to embed it into applications.

Document technical overview

SBTVD middleware structure Ginga Structure v1.jpg
SBTVD middleware structure

Brazil will have a unique joint implementation of declarative and procedural middleware and the bridge between them. The Brazilian data coding system is called Ginga and comprises the language specification used by the presentation engine Ginga-NCL, the monomidia coding and GEM compliant Java presentation engine.

Globally Executable MHP (GEM) is a DVB specification of a Java based middleware for TV broadcast receivers, IPTV terminals and Blu-ray players. GEM is an ETSI standard and an ITU "Recommendation”. GEM defines a set of common functionalities which are independent from the signaling and protocols of a specific transmission network and enables to write interoperable Java applications for TV. GEM is not intended to be directly implemented, but rather forms the basis for broader specifications targeting a particular network infrastructure or class of device. GEM defines profiles for different device classes (targets) – these define the set of available features of GEM for this device class. Currently GEM defines targets for broadcast, packaged media (Blu-Ray) and IPTV. Combinations of these targets can be combined into a hybrid GEM platform, which enables to build devices with multiple network interfaces, such as a combined broadcast/IPTV set-top box.

The lower level protocol is the data carrousel for transmission of a data block without any kind of semantics. On the upper level the object carrousel allows the transmission of file, archives, applications, folders and event synchronization. Object carrousel is not part of the Japanese ARIB standards, but rather defined on DVB and ATSC standards.

SBTVD middleware structure Ginga Execution Environment v1.jpg
SBTVD middleware structure

NCL, Nested Context Language, is a XML application language recommendation that allows authors to write interactive multimedia presentations in a very simple and efficient manner. Using NCL, an author can describe the temporal behavior of a multimedia presentation, associate hyperlinks (user interaction) with media objects, define alternatives for presentation (adaptation), and describe the layout of the presentation on multiple devices. Unlike HTML or XHTML, NCL has a stricter separation between content and structure and provides non-invasive control of presentation linking and layout. Therefore, NCL does not define any media itself. Instead, it defines the glue that holds media together in multimedia presentations.

HTML Hypertext Markup Language

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. It can be assisted by technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) and scripting languages such as JavaScript.

eXtensible HyperText Markup Language (XHTML) is part of the family of XML markup languages. It mirrors or extends versions of the widely used HyperText Markup Language (HTML), the language in which Web pages are formulated.

The procedural part defines a generic interface between interactive digital applications and the terminals on which those applications are executed. It enables digital content providers to address all types of terminals ranging from low-end to high-end receivers with flexibility and portability. The specification also includes a special profile for portable reception.

These documents are also officially available at ABNT website.

Summary

The performance levels for the Ginga middleware exceeds the current levels achieved by similar systems by using smaller and more efficient script languages, like Lua. Also, the combination of a procedural and declarative programming languages in one single system allow for the creating of a greater set of applications with minimum effort to the programmer. The transmission of interactive application within free-to-air programming will improve broadcasters relationship with its audience.

The documents describing the reference specification of Ginga are ABNT NBR 15606-1:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification - Part 1: Data coding; ABNT NBR 15606-2:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification - Part 2: Ginga-NCL for fixed and mobile receivers: XML application language for application coding; ABNT NBR 15606-3:2007- Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification - Part 3: Data transmission specifications for digital broadcasting; and ABNT NBR 15606-5:2008 - Digital terrestrial television - Data coding and transmission specification – Part 5: Ginga-NCL for portable receivers: XML application language for application coding.

Related Research Articles

Markup language Modern system for annotating a document

In computer text processing, a markup language is a system for annotating a document in a way that is syntactically distinguishable from the text. The idea and terminology evolved from the "marking up" of paper manuscripts, which is traditionally written with a red or blue pencil on authors' manuscripts. In digital media, this "blue pencil instruction text" was replaced by tags, which indicate what the parts of the document are, rather than details of how they might be shown on some display. This lets authors avoid formatting every instance of the same kind of thing redundantly. It also avoids the specification of fonts and dimensions which may not apply to many users.

Moving Picture Experts Group working group to set standards for audio and video compression

The Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) is a working group of authorities that was formed by ISO and IEC to set standards for audio and video compression and transmission. It was established in 1988 by the initiative of Hiroshi Yasuda and Leonardo Chiariglione, group Chair since its inception. The first MPEG meeting was in May 1988 in Ottawa, Canada. As of late 2005, MPEG has grown to include approximately 350 members per meeting from various industries, universities, and research institutions. MPEG's official designation is ISO/IEC JTC 1/SC 29/WG 11 – Coding of moving pictures and audio.

MHEG-5, or ISO/IEC 13522-5, is part of a set of international standards relating to the presentation of multimedia information, standardised by the Multimedia and Hypermedia Experts Group (MHEG). It is most commonly used as a language to describe interactive television services.

The Integrated Services Digital Broadcasting is a Japanese standard for digital television (DTV) and digital radio used by the country's radio and television networks. ISDB replaced NTSC-J analog television system and the previously used MUSE Hi-vision analogue HDTV system in Japan, and will be replacing NTSC, PAL-M and PAL-N in South America and the Philippines. Digital Terrestrial Television Broadcasting (DTTB) services using ISDB-T started in Japan in December 2003 and in Brazil in December 2007 as a trial. Since then, many countries have adopted ISDB over other digital broadcasting standards.

ISDB-T International, or SBTVD, short for Sistema Brasileiro de Televisão Digital, is a technical standard for digital television broadcast used in Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Botswana, Chile, Honduras, Venezuela, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Philippines, Bolivia, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Uruguay, based on the Japanese ISDB-T standard. ISDB-T International launched into commercial operation on December 2, 2007, in São Paulo, Brazil, as SBTVD.

Broadcast Markup Language, or BML, is an XML-based standard developed by Japan's Association of Radio Industries and Businesses as a data broadcasting specification for digital television broadcasting. It is a data-transmission service allowing text to be displayed on a 1seg TV screen.

The DASL Programming Language is a high-level, strongly typed programming language originally developed at Sun Microsystems Laboratories between 1999 and 2003 as part of the Ace Project. The goals of the project were to enable rapid development of web-based applications based on Sun's J2EE architecture, and to eliminate the steep learning curve of platform-specific details.


Teletext was introduced in the analogue television in the 80's, leading to a limited interaction with television sets to obtain information about things like the schedule and weather. But nowadays this concept goes even far away and a new and improved way of interaction with the user has been developed. The early private broadcasters, as Canal+, were the pioneers in adopting this new form and today are preceded by their digital formats.

Ginga is the middleware specification for the Nipo-Brazilian Digital TV System. Ginga is also ITU-T Recommendation for IPTV Services. It is also considered in ITU-T recommendations for Cable Broadcast services and for Terrestrial Broadcast services by ITU-R BT.1889, ITU-R BT.1699 and ITU-R BT.1722. Ginga was developed based on a set of standardized technologies but mainly on innovations developed by Brazilian researchers. Its current reference implementation was released under the GPL license.

ABNT NBR 15601

ABNT NBR 15601 is the technical standard published by ABNT, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards, that is responsible for addressing the aspects regarding transmission on the Brazilian Digital Terrestrial Television Standards, also known as SBTVD or ISDB-T version B.

ABNT NBR 15602

The audio and video compression aspects of the Brazilian Digital Terrestrial Television Standards are described in the three documents published by ABNT, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards, the ABNT NBR 15602-1:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Video coding, audio coding and multiplexing - Part 1: Video coding; ABNT NBR 15602-2:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Video coding, audio coding and multiplexing - Part 2: Audio coding; and ABNT NBR 15602-3:2007 - Digital terrestrial television - Video coding, audio coding and multiplexing - Part 3: Multiplexing signals.

ABNT NBR 15603

The ABNT NBR 15603 is the technical document of the SBTVD standards that describes in detail aspects regarding Multiplexing and service information (SI). The document is divided in 3 separate parts that covers: SI for digital broadcasting systems ; Data structure and definition of SI basic Information ; and Syntax and definition of SI extended information.

ABNT NBR 15604

The ABNT NBR 15604 is the document that describes in detail the mandatory and optional functions and features of receivers for the SBTVD. It's essential for the correct implementation by manufacturers of either fixed, mobile or portable receivers aimed at the Brazilian Digital TV market.

ABNT NBR 15605

The ABNT NBR 15605 is the technical document of the SBTVD standards that describes in detail aspects regarding content security issues and copy protection, also known as Digital Rights Management (DRM). It's a detailed reference for manufacturers and content providers that aim to coordinate transmission and reception protection systems in a transparent and effective way for mass viewing.

ABNT NBR 15607

The standard ABNT NBR 15607-1:2008 - Digital terrestrial television – Interactivity channel establishes the ways in which a receiver device can send information back to the broadcaster through different communication mechanisms. The transmission of common broadcasting content will be done through the air through the main programming feed, while a more customized use of content can be sent through the interactive channel.

ABNT NBR 15608

The standard ABNT NBR 15608 describes in further detail the parts of the digital television system that need clarifying, setting directives for implementation in a combination of mandatory and optional features. It can be seen as a refinement of the original specification documents focused on system implementation.

BraSCII

BraSCII is an encoded repertoire of characters that was used in Brazil. It was used in the 1980s on several printers, in applications like Carta Certa, in video boards and it was the standard character set in the Brazilian line of MSX computers.

References

  1. ↑ ABNT, the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas)
  2. ↑ Ginga organization Brazilian website in English "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2009-05-18. Retrieved 2009-05-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ↑ NCL - Nested Context Language
  4. ↑ Sun Microsystems - Sun Microsystems And SBTVD Forum To Develop Open-Source Java Solution For Brazil's Digital TV System
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